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July 2007, Vol. 19, No.7
Certification Quiz
Test Your Knowledge of Headworks Treatment
True or False Questions:
- Screening presses and vacuum containers are used at wastewater treatment plants to remove the liquid from the screenings before transport to reduce excess water, volume, and weight.
- The spacing between the bars in bar screens is typically 0.25 to 0.5 in. (6.35 to 12.7 mm).
- The chains used in chain-driven bar screens tend to stretch from wear.
- The basic components of wastewater grit material consists of such materials as sand, cinders, rocks, coffee grounds, cigarette filter tips, and other relatively nonputrescible organic and inorganic substances.
- Grit classifiers remove organics from the grit.
Multiple Choice Questions:
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Hand-cleaned grit chambers are typically used in what size plants?
A. Large plants with flows greater than 11 mgd.
B. Medium-sized plants with flows between 6 and 10 mgd.
C. Small plants with flows generally between 3 and 5 mgd.
D. The smallest plants with flows generally less than 1 mgd.
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Aerated grit chambers provide a period of wastewater detention to trap grit through air-induced rotation of the wastewater at approximately what speed?
A. 1 ft/s (0.3 m/s).
B. 3 ft/s (0.9 m/s).
C. 5 ft/s (1.5 m/s).
D. 7 ft/s (2.1 m/s).
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Calculate the monthly screenings disposal cost for a 10-mgd wastewater treatment plant. Assume that on a typical day, 1.2 yd3, 2.3 yd3, and 0.7 yd3 of compacted screenings were removed during the first, second, and third shifts, respectively. The plant pays $35 to dump each 12-ft-long, 4-ft-wide, 5-ft-high container at the landfill.
A. $66 per month.
B. $147 per month.
C. $380 per month.
D. $515 per month.
Questions were developed by Steve Spicer and reviewed by the Association of Boards of Certification (Ames, Iowa) Validation and Examination Committee.
Answer Key:
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1. True.
2. False. Bar screen spacing is typically 0.75 to 2 in. (19 to 51 mm).
3. True.
4. True.
5. True.
6. d.
7. a.
8. d. Calculate the amount of screenings collected each month: (1.2 yd3 + 2.3 yd3 + 0.7 yd3) × 30 d = 126 yd3 per month. Calculate the volume of the screenings container in yards: (12 ft × 0.33 yd/ft) × (4 ft × 0.33 yd/ft) × (5 ft × 0.33 yd/ft) = 8.6 yd3. Calculate how many containers are needed each month: 126 yd3 per month ÷ 8.6 yd3 per container = 14.7 containers per month. Calculate the cost: 14.7 containers per month × $35 per container ≈ $515 per month.
References:
Water Environment Federation (2007). Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants; Manual of Practice No. 11, Fifth Ed. Alexandria, Va.: Water Environment Federation.